Calls for Unity and Tolerance Dominate Good Friday Ecumenical Procession in Kampala

Calls for unity and political tolerance echoed through the streets of Kampala on Good Friday as Christians from different denominations came together for the annual Ecumenical Public Way of the Cross, organized by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC).

The annual solemn procession drew hundreds of faithful from the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox communities, serving not only as a spiritual pilgrimage but also as a collective reflection on Uganda’s socio-political challenges. As believers reenacted Christ’s journey to Calvary, religious leaders used the occasion to urge national unity, peace, and mutual respect, especially as the country gears up for the 2026 general elections.

“So we call upon all people who are concerned to promote living united in diversity,” said Bishop Anthony Zziwa, Chairperson of both the UJCC and the Uganda Episcopal Conference, while delivering the UJCC Easter message at Old Kampala, where the procession concluded.

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This year’s event, held under the theme “Lord, Save Us from Perishing,” started from various churches across Kampala and converged in the city center. The march halted traffic and drew public attention with intermittent pauses for prayer, scripture readings, and reflections on pressing national issues such as corruption, inequality, justice, and violence.

Participants from all walks of life—including clergy, youth, women’s groups, and political leaders—joined the procession, underscoring its growing role as a unifying national tradition. Delivering the homily, Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith during life’s turbulent moments. 

He referenced the biblical account of Jesus calming the storm, drawing parallels to modern struggles such as sickness, poverty, and political unrest. “Storms in life, whether sickness, financial struggles, or political turmoil—are inevitable,” Archbishop Kaziimba said. “But even amid trials, we are not abandoned. Just like the disciples in the boat, we have Jesus with us.”

He called on believers to seek God during difficult times. “When the storm struck, the disciples didn’t turn to one another; they cried out to Jesus. And He responded. In the storms of our lives, let us do the same—call out to God. He hears and answers,” he emphasized. 

In a separate appeal, the Archbishop suggested that the government consider releasing prisoners on Good Friday as a symbolic act of mercy and forgiveness, akin to the Jewish Passover tradition.

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The Vice President, Jesca Alupo, who officiated at the event, lauded the role of religious institutions in shaping societal values and supplementing government efforts in education and health. She pledged continued government support to faith-based organizations and promised to relay Archbishop Kaziimba’s proposal to President Yoweri Museveni for consideration.

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This year’s procession was especially symbolic, coinciding with the rare alignment of Easter dates across all Christian denominations. Both the Gregorian and Julian calendars mark Easter Sunday on April 20, 2025—a powerful sign of ecumenical unity, which has been a core objective of the UJCC since its inception in 1963.